The Bible is the inspired Word of God, totally true, and absolutely reliable. It is the final authority for all we do as Christians, and as a church. It will transform your attitudes, speech, and actions. It encourages us and guides us into God’s way of living.
The Bible is God’s only written message to all people, for all of time. It is made up of 66 books, all written by men as God led them to write (2 Timothy 3:15-17). When first written, the Bible did not contain any mistakes and it has only one true meaning (John 17:17; 2 Peter 1:20-21). The Bible is able to meet everyone’s spiritual needs as they read and obey it (Proverbs 2:1-10).
The Bible is:
- Perfect (Psalm 19:7, Proverbs 30:5)
- It is without error (Psalm 119:138, 144)
- Authoritative (Hebrews 4:12, Psalm 33:9,119:4)
- Eternal; it is just as applicable today as it when written! (Isaiah 40:8, Psalm 119:89, 160).
- Unchanging! (Malachi 3:6, James 1:17, Hebrews 6:17-18)
We can rest with full assurance in God’s Word because God remains faithful to His Word and fulfils all His promises.
It is essential to read God’s word
When we become a Christian, we are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), born-again (John 3:3). Spiritually you are like a baby who is just beginning to grow. God’s Word is food for our lives. The Word of God tells us, “Like new born babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation” (1 Peter 2:2). The milk referred to here is the Word of God, the Bible. We need to read it regularly, meditate on it, and obey it.
The Christian life is a walk with the Lord, that’s why God’s Word is described as, “A lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105). It gives us instruction, plus it helps us understand God and who we are from His perspective. It shows us how to please God in every area of our lives and how to serve Him. God speaks to us through the Bible, and He guides us if we read and obey on His Word.
Reasons for knowing God’s Word
- It makes us wise (Psalm 119:98-104)
- It gives us the light of understanding (Psalm 119:130)
- It gives us peace and stops us from stumbling (Psalm 119:165)
- It builds us up and gives us an inheritance in Jesus (Acts 20:32)
- It enables faith (Romans 10:17)
- It teaches us, gives encouragement, and enables hope (Romans 15:4)
- It is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in right living (2 Timothy 3:16)
- It penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints, and marrow (Hebrews 4:12)
- It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4:12)
Ways to know God’s Word
- HEARING: Take time to attend Bible teaching/preaching. Listen to recorded Bible teaching, personal or group Bible reading aloud, gospel witnessing.
- READING: When we read, we need to ask the Holy Spirit to give us understanding. It can be helpful to follow a Bible reading plan, attend a Bible teaching Home Group, or get in a Discipleship relationship.
- STUDYING: Make time to study your Bible. Once again, ask God to bring an older Christian into your life who will be willing to disciple you. It may be helpful to follow a Bible study lesson. Write key notes into your Bible so that you can be reminded of the truths you have learned. Write down anything that God teaches you.
- MEDITATING: This is taking a verse, or verses, and spending time prayerfully thinking about and thinking through the passage making application to your life. Ask yourself these questions:
- What does this passage say about God?
- Is there something God says is true of you?
- Take note of how God sees you?
- Is there a command to be obeyed?
- Is there a sin that you should turn away from?
- Spend time talking with the Lord about what you have been meditating on.
- MEMORISING: Memorise Bible passages for the following reasons:
- To use when being tempted to sin. “I have hidden your word is my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11).
- To help you remember lessons learned from Scripture
- For use when meditating without a Bible
- For quoting to others, including witnessing
- For quoting when praying
God wants us to know Him and His will (John 17:3). That is why we must study the Bible to understand His intended meaning. John 17:17 “Sanctify them by the truth, Your Word is truth.”
Galatians 1:11-12 “I want you to know brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:21, 1 Thessalonians 2:13).
The Bible explains specific attributes, standards and the origin of truth. In Scripture, we find only two forms of knowledge, TRUTH and ERROR. Truth originates from God (Exodus 34:6, Psalm 96:13, James 1:17-18), while error and wrong attitudes originate from Satan and human wisdom (John 8:44, James 3:15, 1 John 4:1, 4-6).
It is God’s will for your life, that you develop your faith and grow your trust in God’s Word. This growth is accelerated by treating His Word as authoritative, as absolute, and as literal truth. Your relationship with the Lord will flourish as you discover more of Him through His revelation of Himself in the Bible.
The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple (Psalm 19:7). The law of the Lord (The Bible), is able to give you spiritual rebirth through the Holy Spirit. Likewise, the statutes of the Lord (The Bible), equips you by producing wisdom. Wisdom is the actual applying of Scripture to every area of your life. Therefore, it is important that you regularly store up God’s Word in your heart. Without it, you will become weak and malnourished. It is indeed your Daily Bread.
God’s Word is sufficient to meet every spiritual need you have in Christ Jesus!